Hopple for driving-horses.



No; 670,058. Patented Mar. 19, mol.

G. ILPERRIN;v HUPPLE FUR. DRIViNG HDRSES.

(Applicmm me@ n n. 21. 1901.)

No Model.)

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TATES I A L? Innen.

HOPPLE FOR DRIVING-HORSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 670,058, dated March 19, 1901.

Application filed January 2l, 1901. berial No. 44,145. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE EDWIN PERRIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky', have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hopples for Driving- Horses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hopples for driving-horses-that is, a hopple which by a simple adjustment may be used either upon the fore or hind legs of a horse;

' horse, showing my hopple in position upon both the fore and hind feet; land Fig. 2 is an elevation of the hopple out of use, dotted lines denoting the position of the ankle-pads attached to the hind feet of the horse and the full lines attached to the fore feet.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the ankle-bands, which are preferably padded and secured in position upon the ankle of the fore or hind feet of a horse by suitable straps. A strap B is buckled to each of the bands, and connectedto the upper ends of each strap and forming a connection therebetween is an elastic strap or cord C. A pair of pulleys D are mounted upon tlis elastic cord, said pulleys being provided with the swivel-eyes E, which are adapted to be engaged by the inclosed loops F, connected to or forming a part of the supporting-strap G, adapted to have its end loops I-I connected or strapped to the shafts of the vehicle. The hopple when in this position upon the shafts and in said loops is used upon the hind feet of the horse.

When the hopples are to be used upon the fore feet, the supporting-straps are secured farther forward upon the shaft, so as to swing below the belly of the horse, the pair of loops .I each being employed to support its pulley.

From this description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be seen that my hopple can be used upon the fore or hind feet of a horse, and when in position that the straps in no way hinder the movement of the horses legs, While at the same time they will train the horse to take high steps and will develop those muscles in thefront and hind legs to enable the horse to take such steps after comparatively little exercise with the hopple.

By shortening the straps B or by placing the pulleys farther apart or closer together many desirable adjustments can be attained for different sized and gaited horses.

It is evident that I provide a hopple which is very simple and cheap, thus producing a Very useful and practical article.

I claim- In a device of the character described, the combination with the ankle-bands, of an elastic cord connected to said ankle-bands, a pair of pulley-blocks, a strap adapted to be secured to the vehicle-shafts and having the pulleys secured thereto, said pulleys having the elastic cord passing therethrough to guide the bands and hold them the proper distance apart.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE EDWIN PERRIN.

' Witnesses:

E. H. ALEXANDER, R. H. CHILDS. 

